Vanuatu: Broad money to total reserves ratio

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Vanuatu's broad money to total reserves ratio rose 0.22 on 2023 (from 1.53 to 1.75).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.1 and a typical year strayed about 0.66 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 7.67 in 1982 and the biggest yearly fall was 4.31 in 1986. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.09 a year. A straight line explains 52% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Vanuatu had the 35th highest value of the 41 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Vanuatu in the 2024 ranking

• North Macedonia — 32nd of 41: 1.95
• Zambia — 33rd of 41: 1.92
• Gambia, The — 34th of 41: 1.79
• Madagascar — 36th of 41: 1.72
• Timor-Leste — 37th of 41: 1.72
• Rwanda — 38th of 41: 1.64

What this measures

Broad money is the sum of all liquid financial instruments held by money-holding sectors that are widely accepted in an economy as a medium of exchange, plus those that can be converted into a medium of exchange at short notice at, or close to, their full nominal value. Reserve assets are external assets, including monetary gold, that are readily available to and controlled by monetary authorities for meeting balance of payments financing needs, for intervention in exchange markets to affect the currency exchange rate, and for other related purposes (such as maintaining confidence in the currency and the economy, and serving as a basis for foreign borrowing). Reserve assets must be denominated and settled in foreign currency. This indicator is expressed as a ratio (a÷b).

All 44 values

Broad money to total reserves ratio in nearby economies

• Australia — 32.96 (2025)
• Brunei Darussalam — 2.44 (2025)
• Cambodia — 2.32 (2025)
• China — 12.34 (2024)
• Fiji — 3.2 (2023)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 4.04 (2023)
• Indonesia — 3.93 (2025)
• Japan — 7.98 (2025)
• Korea, Rep. — 7.3 (2024)
• Macao SAR, China — 3.42 (2025)
• Malaysia

More financial sector data for Vanuatu

• DEC alternative conversion factor (LCU per US$) — US$120.33 (2025)
• Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) — US$120.32 (2025)
• Consumer price index (2010 = 100) — 152.47 (2025)
• Net domestic credit (current LCU) — 69.26 billion (2024)
• Net foreign assets (current LCU) — 95.78 billion (2024)
• Broad money (current LCU) — 128.27 billion (2024)
• Inflation, consumer prices (annual % growth) — 0.66% (2025)
• Claims on central government (annual growth as % of broad money) — 2.17% (2024)
• Claims on private sector (annual growth as % of broad money) — 3.31% (2024)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Vanuatu's broad money to total reserves ratio?

1.75 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1981?

It is down 75.54% from 7.16 in 1981 (3.22% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 14.83 in 1982 and the lowest 1.34 in 2020.

How does Vanuatu rank?

35th highest of 41 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in broad money to total reserves ratio unusual for Vanuatu?

In 2024, Vanuatu's broad money to total reserves ratio rose 0.22 on 2023 (from 1.53 to 1.75). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.1 and a typical year strayed about 0.66 from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator FM.LBL.BMNY.IR.ZS, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: International Financial Statistics database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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